So you’ve found your perfect wedding dress, but now you just need to figure out how to get it to your wedding venue—which is a plane ride away! What should you do? How do you transport your gown safely and securely in the air? Here are some things to consider when flying with your dress.

Buy a High-Quality Garment Bag

Now, of course, most wedding dresses generally come in their own garment bag from the place where you purchased it, and that’s wonderful, but for air travel it’s a good idea to purchase a bag that is more heavy-duty. If possible, look for one that is waterproof or water repellent, made of a sturdy fabric, and has a well-made zipper that won’t break or unintentionally open during your travels.

Be Ready for the TSA

It’s important to know that the TSA will need to scan your dress, just as it does for every other luggage item that comes through the airport, but don’t stress out when they need to scan it. Either put the dress flat on the belt to go through the standard scanner or unzip the garment bag and have them scan it manually. The TSA agents are very familiar with brides bringing their dresses on board with them and should treat your dress with the care you’d hope for, but it’s good for you to be mentally prepared for this, especially since they may need to actually open the bag itself in order to properly approve it to pass through security.

Don’t Check It

If at all possible, it’s a good idea to avoid including your wedding dress in with your other checked baggage. Although it’s certainly possible to check your dress, and there are brides who have done so with success, I would recommend keeping it with you as a carry-on if your airline allows for this. The idea of your luggage getting lost with such an important garment in it just feels like a total nightmare scenario and not something that seems worth the risk.

Check Policies Ahead of Time

Almost all airlines allow for you to bring your wedding dress on board, but do check with their exact policies ahead of time to make sure you’re following their guidelines properly to avoid any issues at the gate. Many airlines even actually have wedding-dress specific information on their websites, so that’s a great place to begin—or you can of course give them a phone call to get confirmation on what they are and are not likely to allow with your dress transportation. When in doubt, do contact them so you can be as prepared as possible to make whatever policies they have in place work for you. It’s possible they may recommend your purchase a certain ticket type, like priority boarding and/or first class seating, to ensure better overhead bin access or other options, so getting this information from them early on in your planning process can help avoid headaches closer to the big day.

Talk to Your Airline Attendants

Upon arrival to your gate and upon entry onto the plane, it’s also a good idea to speak to gate agents and flight attendants to see if they have options to help you. They likely have some ideas on how to make travel with your dress work in the best way possible. They may even allow you to use the closet that’s generally for crew and first class passengers’ jackets if you’re kind and explain the situation. But no matter what the outcome, if you don’t let them know the situation, they won’t be able to help at all, so clear communication from the start is a great way to get everyone on the same page.

Utilize Your Friends or Family Members’ Luggage

If you end up needing to store your dress in a standard overhead bin, try your best to lay it flat on top of your luggage or the luggage of whomever’s traveling with you. You’re trying to avoid scrunching the dress in any way. It may not be appropriate to lay your dress over a stranger’s luggage, but if it seems like the only solution available, just ask your neighbors if they’d mind. Many people would be more than happy to accommodate, knowing the special circumstance involved.

Buy Your Dress a Ticket

Now this may feel like a ridiculous suggestion, but if you’re really concerned about transferring your dress to its new destination and you have the money to spare, you could technically buy your dress its own ticket and have it in a seat next to you the entire time, safe and sound. This is a pricey option, and likely not your first choice, but if you’re very anxious about traveling with your wedding dress, this might just do the trick to calm your nerves.

If you’re looking at a list of supplements and wondering which might be helpful to take in preparation for your wedding day—but are feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of options—worry no longer! Here’s a small list of some basic vitamin supplements that will benefit your health and appearance as your big day gets closer.

Please keep in mind that all of these supplements are just suggestions and you should always consult with your doctor before making any changes or adjustments to your supplement intake—especially because some can have side effects or interact with other medications.

1. Elderberry

If your wedding day is approaching and you’re finding yourself feeling a little under the weather, you may look into taking a elderberry supplement. Often taken in syrup form (although it does exist in capsules as well), this plant-based supplement is usually used to naturally ease cold and flu symptoms such as headaches, sore throats, coughs, and fevers. It also can be used to boost your immune system, so if you wake up feeling a bit sniffly, that’s the perfect time to bust this out and give it a try!

2. Biotin

The first supplement that’s an awesome option to take before your big day is biotin. Biotin is a vitamin that aids your body in converting food into energy. Because of this, it helps support your metabolism, which is great if you’re tying to drop a few pounds before your wedding day. But biotin’s most noted use is for hair and nail growth. Many people report that biotin helps their hair grow faster and stronger, and even with increased shine. People with brittle or weak nails have also noted a difference in nail strength when taking biotin.

3. Echinacea

Echinacea is one of the most popular supplements for immunity support in the United States. Although the results of its use have been varied, it’s thought to help boost immunity and prevent the common cold, so this is another great option to take if you’re starting to feel a cold coming on and hope to get it under control before your wedding day.

4. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an extremely important vitamin for the body. It does many things, including supporting collagen production, potentially protecting cells from UV damage, and is even good for your bone health. It’s also regarded in higher doses to decrease the duration of cold symptoms by up to 24 hours! Vitamin C can be found in many foods, of course, and it’s best to get it into your system that way, but it can also be taken in chewable tablet or pill form for an added boost. Too much Vitamin C can be harmful to your body, however, so make sure you don’t go overboard and, when in doubt, consult your doctor for personalized dosage recommendations.

5. Melatonin

If you have trouble sleeping before your wedding, introducing a natural supplement like melatonin into your routine might help get you more on track in all the pre-wedding excitement. Melatonin is a hormone that occurs naturally in your body, but can also be taken in pill or liquid form to help aid in both falling asleep and in staying asleep. It’s also a great idea to have melatonin on hand if you’re having a destination wedding, as people also often use it to prevent jet lag from long flights.

6. Fish Oil

Fish oil is known to be extremely useful to the body; it’s used for everything from lowering blood pressure and cholesterol to helping with disorders such as depression and other mental health concerns. And while all of those are wonderful and reason enough to add this supplement to your regime, as far as preparing for your wedding, it can be fantastic for your skin health!

7. Multivitamin

Depending on the type and brand, multivitamins can provide a variety of benefits for you before the big day. Since they are meant to be used to supplement a healthy diet and lifestyle, you should be sure not to use them as a “quick fix” to proper nutrition, but as a helpful addition to your daily regime. Multivitamins often contain ingredients that are good for heart and other organ health, boosting your immune system, and even reducing the effects of stress and anxiety. A multivitamin is also a great catch-all option if you’re not sure what specific supplements to take or where to start with a supplement regime.

As always, be sure to communicate with your doctor about what vitamins and dietary supplements would be best for you to consume.

Engagement parties are a fun way to celebrate your upcoming vows with the friends and family who will be alongside you during the wedding planning process. It’s often a casual time for people from both of your families and friend groups to meet and toast to your future. But where should your engagement party be held? There are many different options, and it can depend on lots of factors including your budget, the size and scope of your event, and even the time of year. Here are six great options for locations to host the perfect engagement party for you and your sweetheart!

1. A Home or Backyard

Depending on the type of party you’d like to have, a friend or family member’s home or backyard might just be the perfect location for your shindig. Homes are wonderful engagement party locations for several reasons. First, they’re free! They also make a great option if you’re unsure about the weather, since you can host the engagement party outside in the backyard, but have an instant back-up plan if Mother Nature goes against your plans. A home party may also be the perfect choice for you if you want a fun and casual vibe. They can also be decorated as far in advance as you’d like, in whatever style you like.

2. A Parish Hall

If you’re getting married in a church or other religious building, or even if you’re just a member of the organization, you might consider using their parish or event hall for an afternoon or evening. This is a great way to get everyone acquainted with your wedding location, and it’s also possible that you may be able to get a deal on the rental fee with your membership (for many, it may even be free!).

3. Your Favorite Restaurant or Bar

Another great option is to host your engagement party at your favorite restaurant or bar. This way, people can get whatever food and drinks they want and it can be a super casual, comfortable time where guests come and go as they please. This is also a great option if you want to host a small group, as you could even reserve a back room or large table and have everyone covered for the afternoon or evening. Another bonus to this is that there’s no cooking and no clean-up for the hosts!

4. A Reception Hall

If you’re going for a more traditional atmosphere for your engagement party, a reception hall might just be your best bet. Reception halls are great options for large guest lists. You can call around and find a venue that will hold the number of people you’re planning on hosting, and you can decorate as much or as little as you desire. Reception halls also tend to have kitchens on site and sometimes even caterers on site as well, which can be very helpful for the host who wants more flexibility in their plans, but doesn’t want to have to provide everything themselves.

5. A Favorite Park or Beach

If you and your partner prefer a casual affair, why not consider a favorite park or beach for your engagement party? You could have a picnic, BBQ, or potluck, bring lawn chairs, and play games like frisbee or corn hole. Hosting an engagement party at a community outdoor space is another free option that may be perfect if you live in an area with warm weather.

6. Your Wedding Venue

If you already have your wedding venue chosen, check their availability to host your engagement party. This might work especially well if you choose an engagement party date on an “off” day or night like a Tuesday or Wednesday, when your venue may not have other events happening. This is an awesome way to show everybody what to expect for the location for your upcoming vows, and you couldn’t ask for a better way to get you and your spouse-to-be excited for the big day. Although this won’t be an option for some couples or locations, it certainly can’t hurt to ask!

No matter where you decide to have your engagement party, as long as it suits you and your sweetheart, it’s sure to be an amazing time. Have fun celebrating your engagement with family and friends, no matter where you decide to be!

So you’ve just gotten engaged—the ring is on, you and your spouse-to-be are still buzzing with excitement, and you’re heading to your engagement party! But just what should you expect from this event? Here are a few things to keep in mind as you head into this joyous occasion.

You’re Going to Have a Lot of Introductions to Make

Be prepared to do a lot of introductions. One of the best parts of an engagement party is starting to introduce important people in your life to one another before the wedding festivities begin. This will set the stage for much closer companionship at the wedding itself, of course, but can also be fantastic for people who may be planning and interacting with each other quite a bit before the big day, like bridal party members or family from both sides. Just make sure that everybody you invite to the engagement party is someone you know you’ll want at the wedding as well; it’s in poor taste to invite someone to your party, but then not have them make the cut for the wedding itself, so plan accordingly.

Everyone Will Want to Know the Proposal Story

This is an engagement party, so don’t be surprised when people want to hear all about your engagement! You may have to share this story over and over again on this day, so be ready to tell it. If you’d rather, you can find a clever way to tell it to everyone at once, like in a display or as part of a speech. But don’t be surprised if guests still want to hear it told from your personal perspective. Soak in the fact that everyone is excited for you and find the joy in telling and re-telling the tale!

It Can Be a Totally Different Theme Than Other Wedding Events

You can, of course, have an engagement party that is however fancy or casual as you wish. However, engagement parties are often more casual than other pre-wedding events like bridal showers, and can have a completely different theme than the wedding itself. The other great thing to remember is that the dress code for your event doesn’t have to match the wedding at all. Even if you’re having a black tie wedding, your engagement party can be more casual and will of course include food and drink, but this can be a BBQ, potluck, or even pizza rather than a super fancy affair. It’s totally up to you!

You Will Receive a Few Gifts

Gifts are by no means required for engagement party attendees, but you are likely to receive at least a few while at the event. It’s a good idea to be prepared for this and to have a suitable location where guests can place their gifts, but where it won’t make guests who didn’t bring anything feel like they were supposed to arrive with something. Since you won’t be opening these items at the event and won’t need to access any presents until later, this place can be out of the way of the action.

There Will Be Toasting

This is not a necessity for your event, but engagement party toasts do often happen. These tend to be more casual and off-the-cuff than a traditional wedding toast, but don’t be surprised if some of your favorite people want to stand up and offer a few words. If your guests do decide to toast you, don’t forget to get up yourself and properly thank the event hosts for throwing you such a lovely celebration. If no one chooses to lead in toast, you or your partner should still feel free to get up and say a few words of gratitude and thanks for your hosts as well as everyone who was able to attend the event. It’s pretty special for these important people in your life to get together and celebrate this new chapter in your life, and it’s always a good idea to thank them for it.

Everyone Will Want to Know Your Wedding Plans

And, of course, no engagement party would be complete without the couple being asked all about their plans for the big day, which can be anything from the date to your wedding colors. Don’t be at all surprised when people want to know as much as they can about your wedding day plans! Since engagement parties usually occur within just a few months of the proposal, it’s totally okay if you only have a few pieces of information, or even just some ideas you’re considering, but either way be ready to chat all about the event. Remember that your family and friends love you and are excited to celebrate your union, so don’t be annoyed when the fifth person in a row asks you about what flowers you will have in your bouquet—just smile and tell them what you know so far! Letting everyone be excited for and with you is one of the greatest parts of your engagement, so soak it in and try to appreciate it!

Many aspects of your wedding beauty routine can be done on a very low budget, but there are a few things that are seriously worth the splurge. When planning for your big day, include these six things in your beauty budget and you’ll be looking polished and radiant on your wedding day!

1. A High Quality Foundation

A simple but important thing to consider is your choice of foundation for your wedding day makeup. While you may feel like any everyday foundation will do, remember that this is a day on which you want to be sure your foundation will last from morning until late at night—so you’ll likely need a more heavy hitter than what’s in your standard arsenal. Another important thing to think about when choosing a wedding day foundation is how well it looks in photographs. Many foundations have ingredients that actually produce a white cast (sometimes referred to as “flashback”) over your face, which messes with the look of your complexion in photos. This is often caused by SPF in foundations, although there are some on the market that include low amounts of SPF and therefore don’t produce flashback in photography. It’s important to seek out high-quality foundations that will make you look amazing both on camera and off.

2. A Gel or Dip Manicure

Although many brides get manicures before their wedding (hello, girls’ day with your bridesmaids!), you should actually consider going with a more heavy-duty option so you don’t need to worry about chipped nails for your celebration or even your honeymoon. There are a few options currently on the market that work well for this: a gel manicure, which uses a UV light to cure the polish, or a new trend called “dip” nails, using a unique powder that you literally dip your nails into. Both options tend to last at least two weeks on your nails without chipping, so it’s really a matter of preference as to which you choose. These are recommended over a traditional manicure, however, and are well worth the higher price tag to avoid the potential of having chipped nails on your wedding day!

3. A Facial

Taking care of your skin before your wedding begins long before you can see the big day on your calendar, but getting a facial a few weeks before your big day can have a great effect on the overall look and feel of your skin. Make sure you don’t do this right before the wedding day, however, since you want to give your skin time to adjust to the treatment and you don’t want to wake up to a wedding morning break-out. With people watching you all day long, you’ll want your skin to look at its absolute best and a facial is a great option to help you look as radiant as possible on your wedding.

4. Teeth Whitening

There are a few different ways to make sure your smile is as bright as possible for your big day, including professional teeth whitening done in a dentist office, professional whitening done at home, or a quick over-the-counter variety. Depending on your tooth sensitivity and how much flexibility you have in your budget, you may choose one option over the others, but either way, it’s well worth the cost to make sure you have the whitest, brightest smile as you walk down the aisle.

5. A Professional Spray Tan

If you’re choosing to get a tan before the big day, it’s very important that you do not go with the tanning booth option, where you stand in the middle of a booth and essentially a machine gives you your spray tan. Although this is perfectly fine for regular use, you’ll definitely want a professional airbrusher to do the tan for you before your wedding. Using a professional is preferable in this case because they’ll work hard to make your tan look as natural as possible, even to the point of mimicking the way the sun would naturally hit you and adjusting the tan to suit that. The last thing you want is an uneven tan on your wedding day, so it’s important to splurge for a professional artist.

6. A Hair and Makeup Trial

Many hair and makeup artists will do a trial of your wedding day look for you before the day arrives, but this service does often cost a fee. Although it may seem like money that could be spent elsewhere, especially if you trust your artists, we highly recommend going for it and getting a trial run. What if you think you know what look you want, but then when you see it for the first time on your wedding day, you’re not happy with it? Better for that to happen two months before the vows than two hours before! Knowing what you’re going to look like before walking down the aisle will be well worth the extra cash. Plus, establishing a relationship with the artists who will be with you on your special day will help you feel more comfortable and confident the morning of. This service is well worth its price tag.

As we get to the start of a new year, you’re probably making some resolutions, whether they’re related to your health, finances, or relationships. But if you’re getting married in 2019, you may want to think about some resolutions that are specifically related to your upcoming vows. Here’s some goals you may want to set for yourself, whether you just got engaged or you’re getting ready to walk down the aisle within a month or two. (And—bonus!—some of these new year resolutions will improve other areas of your life, too.)

1. Keep Your Wedding Paperwork Organized

The amount of paperwork involved in the wedding planning process is really quite remarkable: vendor contracts, guest lists, vows, menus, receipts…the list goes on! Making it one of your new year’s resolutions to keep yourself organized will make things so much easier on your big day. Keep a binder of important information, contacts, and duplicates of any paperwork you might need—and make sure to have it on hand on your wedding day, just in case. Hopefully everything will go perfectly and you won’t need any of it but if you do, you’ll be so thankful that you kept your wedding planning details organized this year.

2. Enjoy the Engagement Period

Wedding planning can be a flurry of decisions, questions, and expectations that can take over your mind. That’s normal, of course, but it’s important to also spend some time enjoying this period of your life when you’re simply engaged. Tell people about the proposal, show off the ring, wear cheesy t-shirts or buy cute mugs if that’s your style—whatever you do, take some time to just appreciate and enjoy this season of your life. Engagement is such a special time that you’ll never have again, so don’t get so wrapped up in planning that you forget to take a moment to just absorb this unique experience.

3. Don’t Go into Debt Paying for the Wedding

We all know that weddings are expensive—but is your wedding worth going into major debt? Take the time and effort this year to really crack down on your wedding budget and make sure you’re saving money for the things that are most important to you and your future husband or wife. An extravagant wedding seems fun in the moment, but it’s going to be a lot less great if you’re paying it off for the next two years of your lives. Just consider the true cost of putting something on a credit card or using a loan to pay for your day. Finding yourselves deep in debt at the very start of your marriage could cause some major conflict and friction in your relationship, so take the time this year to budget and plan properly and you’ll leave your reception with no bills haunting you.

4. Treat Your Body Well

It’s a common perception that all brides-to-be diet or begin a serious workout regime before the wedding—and if that’s your case, that’s totally fine! But it’s so incredibly essential to remember that the most important thing to do as you prepare for your wedding is to treat your body well. Eating healthy foods and moving your body are great ways to do that, but obsessing over your weight to the point of making unhealthy nutrition or exercise choices is extremely harmful to your physical and mental health. No dress, photo, or event is worth compromising your health and wellbeing, so be sure to take the time this year to focus on what really matters and take care of yourself.

5. Communicate Clearly and Kindly

Keeping your communication open, honest, and kind will make a huge difference during this process. Because wedding planning can be so stressful, it’s easy to slip into less-than-ideal communication patterns, especially with those closest to you like your partner, bridal party, and parents. Make it a goal to keep your communication positive, clear, and kind, and you’ll see how much more willing people are to work and cooperate with you, even in tricky or difficult circumstances. Keep in mind that the way you talk to others is as important, if not more so, than the information you’re relaying.

6. Relax and Have Fun Before You Get Married!

Life doesn’t have to revolve around your wedding once you’re engaged. Give yourself a break and make time for you and your partner to enjoy activities that have absolutely nothing to do with guest lists or vendor contacts. Go to the movies, watch a favorite TV show, take a hike, or plan a weekend vacation. A wedding is an exciting and wonderful thing. But don’t let yourself get so wrapped up in all of it that you disconnect from the reason you’re getting married in the first place. (That you love to be with your future husband or wife!) Let the fun start even before the big day and you’ll set yourselves up for happily ever after!

1. Tissues

Now, I’m sure you’ve thought of this one when it comes to the tears that may well up as you’re saying your vows to your sweetheart, but tissues are super useful for other things, too! Cleaning a stray swipe of lipstick off a toddler’s cheek from grandma’s kisses, dabbing off a sweaty brow, or just plain blowing your nose all require a tissue. Grab a small travel pack of tissues and have them available for your big day.

2. Pen and Paper

Having a pen or pencil and some paper at your disposal on your big day will be more useful than you might imagine. You may need to jot down directions for a friend, draw a diagram of the reception venue for a vendor, or pen a note to your fiance and you’ll be so glad to have those at the ready. The last thing you need when trying to handle any last-minute things that come up unexpectedly is to be searching high and low for something as simple as a notebook and a writing utensil.

3. Touch-up Kit

It’s always a good idea to have a member of your bridal party bring a small makeup touch-up kit around for you during the day, just in case you need a fresh coat of lipstick or a bit of powder after some rocking out on the dance floor. It’s also a good idea for your touch-up kit to include small makeup remover wipes and cotton swabs, just in case.

4. Food and Drinks

This one is a huge essential (one of the most important in my opinion) and also one of the most overlooked. You do not want to forget to eat or hydrate on your wedding day and find yourself woozy, dizzy, or worse—passing out on your way down the aisle! Keeping a few easy-to-eat, non-messy snacks and beverages available, like protein bars and water bottles or seltzer, will make a massive difference in your mood (no hangry couples here!) and your health throughout the day.

5. Super Glue

This might sound bizarre, but having super glue handy can be extremely useful on your wedding day. It’s great because it’s a fast, simple way to fix almost anything, from issues with wedding signage to broken jewelry and anything in between. Plus, you can purchase small sizes so it’s not at all cumbersome and can easily be slipped into a clutch or emergency kit without much fuss.

6. Sewing Kit with Safety Pins

Many people will advise you to have a sewing kit available to you on your wedding day, and that is completely true! You can use the kit to adjust a hem, fix a strap, or reattach a button in a snap. Make sure to also include some thread that closely matches the color of the garments you and your bridal party will be wearing. But something else that should not be overlooked in this kit is a mess of safety pins! Safety pins are super versatile and can be used as a quick fix to a small problem, especially if you don’t have time to break out the needle and thread. Include both options in your sewing kit and you’ll be covered from all angles for any rips, breaks, or tears that might come your way.

7. First Aid Kit

The last thing you need is someone bleeding on your wedding attire, so a first aid kit is a must! Make sure it includes adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes, antibiotic ointment, an elastic bandage wrap, and at least one portable ice pack, as well as some general medication such as pain relievers, antacids, and allergy medication. Hopefully you won’t need to use any of it, but if you do you’ll be so glad to have it nearby and ready to help heal any ailments and move forward as planned.

8. Menstrual Products

Whether you’re a bridesmaid or a bride, no one wants to have a period mishap at a wedding, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. Be prepared by having a few tampons and pads available for anyone who may end up having that need arise. You’ll be so happy you did.

Having these personal items on hand for your wedding day will help ensure that you’re ready for anything—and even more than that, they’ll help reduce the stress before your big day! If you’d like, you can get a cute basket, put the above items in it, and ask a member of your wedding party to be in charge of keeping it accessible for the day, so you can relax and know that you’re prepared for whatever may come your way!

Planning your wedding can be a complicated experience, but having a great timeline can be one of the most useful, important things for your day. Giving yourself enough—but not too much—time for everything you need can feel like a monumental task, especially if you’ve never planned a wedding or a big event before. Here are a few common mistakes couples make and some solutions to keep in mind as you begin to schedule your wedding day timeline.

1. Not Including Travel in Your Timeline

As you’re beginning to put together your day-of timeline, it’s important to include travel time into the mix, particularly if you’re traveling from a “getting ready location” to the ceremony, or from the ceremony location to a reception spot. Not only do you need to remember to factor in the travel time, but also add a bit of additional time for potential traffic, too. And look at the local website for your ceremony and reception locations to confirm if there are any events in the area that might add even more time to your travel on that day! It sounds like a minor thing, but overlooking travel time can make a big dent in your timeline, and really throw your schedule off for the rest of the day.

2. Not Scheduling Enough Time to Get Yourself Ready

This is a major one, and it’s one that can really severely affect the rest of your day, so it’s very important to keep in mind. Many couples only think about how much time it regularly takes them to get ready, not considering the amount of people in their bridal party, the number of professional hair and makeup artists that will be available to work on each person, or even simply the fact that wedding hair and makeup will likely take much longer than the day-to-day or even more formal looks. Not scheduling enough time to get ready could even mean that some people in your party may have to do things themselves on the fly, and it could cause a lot of unnecessary stress and overwhelm on what should be a fun, exciting morning! To combat this problem, be sure to have your bridal party meet extra early and begin getting ready together. Make a morning out of it with breakfast foods or snacks, mimosas, coffee, and some upbeat, fun music. Even if your party does end up being ready earlier than planned, it will still be a fun time together and no one will be rushing to finish their makeup 20 minutes before walking down the aisle!

3. Not Padding Your Timeline

If your timeline is scheduled down to the minute with no room for adjusting and adapting, you are going to regret it. Though you certainly shouldn’t add so much padding time that you and your guests spend the day waiting around for the next thing to come, it’s definitely important to add a little extra time to each major section of the wedding timeline. This will not only give you room to breathe if things are on schedule, but will also stop you from panicking if things run a little off course. Your formal family photos going 15 minutes over is a lot less stressful when you know you left a little wiggle room for this exact purpose.

4. Not Scheduling Enough Time for Photos

Photos, particularly group family and bridal party shots, can take much longer than you might initially assume. Remember, this involves corralling all of your relatives and their respective partners and children, posing sets of them together, and keeping the ones who aren’t in that specific photo present and quiet during that time! Add on the potential for disagreeable kids, in-laws who won’t smile, and that one sibling who tends to wander off, and you might be surprised just how long these photos can take. And if you’d like to take individual photos with each member of your bridal party as well as posed group shots and then, of course, formal couples photos—well, that all adds up! Not only should you be sure to include lots of time for these photography sessions as you create your timeline, but it’s essential to share your plan with your photographer and ask for their input. They should be able to give you an idea of what is a reasonable expectation of time for each set of photos you’re hoping for.

5. Not Keeping Yourself on Schedule

Although of course it’s important to have some flexibility on the big day, it can be a huge mistake to not keep an eye on your wedding day timeline. If you don’t have a wedding planner or day-of coordinator, then share the planned schedule with your best man, maid of honor, or another member of your bridal party and ask them to keep you aware of the time. You don’t want to be looking at your watch every 10 minutes by any means, but it’s a good idea to have someone in the group who will help keep everyone aware of the plan and move things along if needed.

6. Not Including Your Vendors

Ultimately, scheduling your wedding can feel like a complicated process, but it’s important to remember that you have so many resources around to help you—specifically, your vendors! Share your plans with them, get their input, and adjust accordingly while avoiding the other above mistakes, and you’ll be well on your way to an awesomely efficient wedding day timeline.

One of the most nerve-racking engagement customs is the tradition of the person planning on proposing to ask their partner’s parents for a blessing before the actual engagement. This can feel like a high pressure, high stakes situation that could make even the most confident person filled to the brim with nerves. If you’re considering asking your girlfriend’s or boyfriend’s parents for a blessing on your impending marriage, make sure you follow these tips and you’ll be on the path to a great conversation with the people who will hopefully be your future in-laws!

Communicate with Your Partner Beforehand

Although you may not want to blatantly ask your partner if they’d like you to speak with their parents before proposing (although you totally can!), it’s a good idea to broach the topic in some way. This can even be just a simple question like, “What do you think about this tradition?” when a proposal scene comes up in a movie you’re watching together. It’s possible that your fiance-to-be may have strong feelings on the topic one way or the other, and it’s important to know their wishes before moving forward with such a delicate conversation. This would also be a good time to see if your partner has preferences on which parents to include in the conversation, or whom to speak with first—especially if their parents are divorced and they may have two sets of parental figures.

Schedule a Time to Talk

This important conversation should happen in person, if at all possible. If you’re truly unable to do it in person because of location differences, then do at least make a phone call. An email or text message would be completely inappropriate for a conversation with this much gravitas and would certainly not present you in the best light. And do schedule the talk ahead of time—this extra step will show that you’re truly serious and understand the gravity of the subject matter at hand, and will likely put confidence in the parents’ minds about your character and planning. Definitely don’t just drop by unannounced to have this conversation. Even if you just call an hour beforehand, if you must, this gives them a little time to prepare to chat with you, and it also shows that you’re not making this engagement decision totally on a whim.

Approach the Topic with Confidence

This is a serious question you’re about to ask your partner, so make sure you arrive to the conversation with confidence and excitement. And, of course, come ready to gush about your love! Be prepared to speak to their parents by coming in with some talking points in mind about what you love about their child, why you think you two are a great match, and what marriage in general means to you. Don’t forget that they raised this person and, like all parents, love to hear good things about their child. Be sure to give them lots to be happy about! Also, be ready to answer questions. Unsurprisingly, parents often have concerns and questions as their child moves on to this next phase of life.

Be Ready to Answer Them

Do not take any questions they may have as an insult to you or your ability to be a great spouse. Just remember how much they also love and care about your partner and want what’s best for them. These questions are a reflection of that. Respond with confidence, truth, and respect at all times. When possible, give answers that will calm any concerns they may have.

Always Remain Respectful and Positive

Remember, having this conversation to begin with is a gesture of respect and kindness towards the parents. You and your partner are both adults and will be able to make the decision to wed even if your future in-laws oppose it, so keep the conversation respectful and positive the whole time. It’s also a good idea to word your request as an ask for a blessing rather than permission. Even if they say “no,” be sure to keep your tone as polite as possible and remember that this conversation and the way you approach it will stick in the memories of your future fiance’s parents, so you want it to be a kind and compassionate one, no matter how it goes.

Include Them in Your Proposal Plans

Once the tough part is out of the way, feel free to include the parents in your proposal plans! Do you have the ring? Show them! Do you have a date for the proposal in mind? Let them in on it! This has the potential to be a fun way for you to bond with them, as well as to get them excited about the prospect of your engagement. If there are elements of surprise involved, do be sure to make that clear to them so they don’t accidentally spoil any surprises, but including them in the plans can help get this new phase of your relationship off to a good start! Keeping these things in mind as you go into this important conversation will help keep you confident and hopefully make your partner’s parents more than happy to give their blessing for your engagement and future marriage!

Engagement is such an exciting time for couples, but it’s not a thing to be taken lightly. If you and your partner are considering moving forward with this massive step, what are some things to think about before you take that leap? What are some conversations you should have together to set your relationship and future marriage up for success? Be sure to have a conversation together about the questions below and really consider the compatibility of your answers before moving forward. You will be much more likely to have a happy engagement and—more importantly—a happily ever after!

1. What Does Marriage Look Like to Each of Us?

What has each of you experienced with the marriages of people around you (most specifically your parents, but potentially other important people, too) and how has that impacted the way you view marriage as a whole? Does marriage simply symbolize a strong commitment or does being married mean there will be major changes in your lives – such as divvying up responsibilities differently, taking on certain roles in the family, changing the amount of privacy you’re each entitled to, etc? Knowing how both you and your partner view marriage from the beginning will help give you a better understanding of what marriage means to each of you, and how that meaning will affect your future marital partnership.

2. Do We Want Kids?

This question is a major one and is an essential question for each person to answer before you choose to move forward with an engagement. While marriage is always going to involve sacrifice and flexibility, if you and your partner differ on this incredibly important topic, it’s extremely likely to cause massive conflict, resentment, and potentially even separation down the road, so you absolutely want to have broached this topic of conversation before you move forward with an engagement. Although it is certainly possible for people to change their minds on this subject, it’s incredibly unwise to go into a marriage assuming that your partner’s opinions will change on this matter. If it’s extremely important to you to either have kids or never have kids, you should make sure you and your partner are compatible on this before you move forward.

3. Where Will We Live?

For some people, marriage is more than just a ceremony and commitment. For some, a wedding brings you into an entirely new stage of life with entirely new priorities, and one of those might be to live in a certain place. This might simply mean moving in together or it might mean moving across the country to be closer to family. Either way, it’s important to know ahead of time how the commitment of marriage may affect where you and your partner want to reside. Being on the same page about this ahead of your engagement means that you’ll prevent potential disagreements later on.

4. How Do We Want to Handle Money?

The topic of money is an extremely important one to be on the same page about before you move forward with an engagement. This is not about how much or how little either partner makes, but about your attitudes around the subject and your opinions on how to manage and handle money in a marriage relationship. Some things that will likely come up as you discuss this topic are whether you think married couples should have shared or separate bank accounts, how you and your partner each individually budget, how or if you would be budgeting as a couple and, of course, how much debt you each might be bringing into the marriage. Although this may sound like a mundane or callous topic to bring up before engagement, it has been shown that money fights and money problems are one of the leading causes of divorce, so if you can get ahead of this topic and really know that you’re on the same page before you even put a ring on it, you are setting yourself and your relationship up for success.

5. How Are We at Conflict Resolution?

This is perhaps an obvious one, but when considering engagement, it’s important to think about how you and your partner function as a couple, including when you disagree or argue. Are you able to remain calm and respectful? Does the situation become volatile very quickly? Do either of you lash out at each other in anger in a scary or unsafe way? Of course, every couple argues, but if you find yourself in a relationship where the arguments escalate to an excessive amount, or if you and your partner seem to be unable to calmly and rationally discuss disagreements, that’s a massive red flag to consider and work through before you proceed with an engagement. In this case, it’s a great idea to seek counseling together to work through some of those concerns. And, of course, if any behavior from either party is unsafe or abusive, please seek help and safety as soon as possible.

Considering the questions above before you move forward with an engagement will put you in a much better place to have a happy, successful marriage relationship. Grab a cup of coffee, sit down with your sweetheart, and really communicate about these important topics so you can feel comfortable and confident with your upcoming engagement!